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Thunder Mountain High School on April 18, 2021. When school resumes Monday, students will attend each weekday, and COVID mitigations will be in place. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)

Hello, school: Juneau’s students make full-time return to classroom

What a difference a year makes.

Thunder Mountain High School on April 18, 2021. When school resumes Monday, students will attend each weekday, and COVID mitigations will be in place. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)
A sixth death from the coronavirus, which occurred at Bartlett Regional Hospital, shown in this January 2021 photo, was reported on Wednesday, Aug. 11, 2021. (Ben Hohenstattl / Juneau Empire File)

City reports 6th COVID death

12 new cases also reported.

A sixth death from the coronavirus, which occurred at Bartlett Regional Hospital, shown in this January 2021 photo, was reported on Wednesday, Aug. 11, 2021. (Ben Hohenstattl / Juneau Empire File)
Signs on the doors at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé remind those entering the building to wear masks. At Tuesday night's Juneau School District Board of Education meeting, the school board unanimously approved a policy that requires masks inside school buildings and makes them optional outdoors. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

School board OKs mask plan for fall

Students to mask inside, optional outside

Signs on the doors at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé remind those entering the building to wear masks. At Tuesday night's Juneau School District Board of Education meeting, the school board unanimously approved a policy that requires masks inside school buildings and makes them optional outdoors. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
The Juneau Police Department, seen here on March 20, 2020, will hold a Citizen’s Police Academy beginning this October. (Michael S. Lockett | Juneau Empire)

Police to reinstate Citizen’s Police Academy

The eight-week class was a regular event pre-pandemic.

The Juneau Police Department, seen here on March 20, 2020, will hold a Citizen’s Police Academy beginning this October. (Michael S. Lockett | Juneau Empire)
(Vivian Faith Prescott / For the Capital City Weekly)
Capital City Weekly

Planet Alaska: 13 ways of looking at goose tongue

The heritage of 10,000 years of Tlingit ancestors harvesting and from Tlingit Aaní.

(Vivian Faith Prescott / For the Capital City Weekly)
Screenshot Deputy attorney general John Skidmore of the Alaska Department of Law speaks during a news conference about a new DNA collection initiative being undertaken by the state on Aug. 10, 2021.

Governor, law enforcement agencies announce DNA collection initiative

The effort will prioritize getting samples from violent or sex offenders.

Screenshot Deputy attorney general John Skidmore of the Alaska Department of Law speaks during a news conference about a new DNA collection initiative being undertaken by the state on Aug. 10, 2021.
Juneau’s Capitol Disposal Landfill in June 2013. Members of the City and Borough of Juneau’s Public Works and Facilities Committee have a plan to address concerns about the long-term viability of Juneau’s landfill and of complaints about odors in the Lemon Creek area. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)

Tackling the trash

City eyes zero waste plan

Juneau’s Capitol Disposal Landfill in June 2013. Members of the City and Borough of Juneau’s Public Works and Facilities Committee have a plan to address concerns about the long-term viability of Juneau’s landfill and of complaints about odors in the Lemon Creek area. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)
This May 30 photo shows a view aboard the MV LeConte. The Alaska Marine Highway System is poised to benefit from a massive spending plan with bipartisan backing. The $1 trillion infrastructure bill passed the Senate on Tuesday. The bill, a cornerstone of President Joe Biden’s agenda, now heads to the House. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)

Alaska’s senators part of bipartisan push for big bill

Both voted for the ‘historic’ $1T infrastructure plan.

This May 30 photo shows a view aboard the MV LeConte. The Alaska Marine Highway System is poised to benefit from a massive spending plan with bipartisan backing. The $1 trillion infrastructure bill passed the Senate on Tuesday. The bill, a cornerstone of President Joe Biden’s agenda, now heads to the House. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)
Juneau’s first electric bus, parked in the Capital Transit garage on April 8, 2021. As more electric busses join the fleet and the new Valley Transit Center opens, existing bus routes will be reconfigured. (Dana Zigmund / Juneau Empire File)

Valley Transit Center on track to open next summer

New bus routes, new shelters coming

Juneau’s first electric bus, parked in the Capital Transit garage on April 8, 2021. As more electric busses join the fleet and the new Valley Transit Center opens, existing bus routes will be reconfigured. (Dana Zigmund / Juneau Empire File)
A sign points the way to the weigh station at the Mike Pusich Douglas Harbor during last year's Golden North Salmon Derby on Aug. 16, 2020. This year is the derby's 75th year and organizers have added additional prizes in celebration of the event. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

Salmon derby celebrates 75 years with new ways to win

Derby days are here again.

A sign points the way to the weigh station at the Mike Pusich Douglas Harbor during last year's Golden North Salmon Derby on Aug. 16, 2020. This year is the derby's 75th year and organizers have added additional prizes in celebration of the event. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
Travel Juneau CEO and President Liz Perry, Sealaska Heritage Institute President Rosita Worl, City and Borough of Juneau Mayor Beth Weldon, and Ironman regional director Dave Christen hold a sign for the 2022 Juneau Ironman event as they announce the race’s Alaska debut on the University of Alaska- Southeast campus on Aug. 9, 2021. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)

Juneau picked to be 1st Ironman host city in Alaska

The unique full-distance triathlon is a grueling test of endurance by run, swim, and bike.

Travel Juneau CEO and President Liz Perry, Sealaska Heritage Institute President Rosita Worl, City and Borough of Juneau Mayor Beth Weldon, and Ironman regional director Dave Christen hold a sign for the 2022 Juneau Ironman event as they announce the race’s Alaska debut on the University of Alaska- Southeast campus on Aug. 9, 2021. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)
Juneau City Hall on October 24, 2020. At Monday’s Public Works and Facilities Committee meeting, members discussed options for moving forward with a new city hall building. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)

CBJ to consider new city hall locations

Voters will have final say

Juneau City Hall on October 24, 2020. At Monday’s Public Works and Facilities Committee meeting, members discussed options for moving forward with a new city hall building. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)
This Aug. 5, 2021, photo provided by Lee LaFollette shows a de Havilland Beaver aircraft departing the Port of Ketchikan, Alaska. Foggy, reduced-visibility conditions have delayed efforts to recover the wreckage of a sightseeing plane that crashed in southeast Alaska, killing six people. Clint Johnson, chief of the National Transportation Safety Board’s Alaska region, says the agency had hoped to recover the wreckage Sunday. But he says those efforts were called off due to poor conditions. He says the crew planned to try again on Monday, Aug. 9, 2021. (Lee LaFollette via AP)

Reduced visibility hampers Alaska plane wreckage effort

Foggy and reduced visibility conditions delayed efforts to recover the wreckage.

This Aug. 5, 2021, photo provided by Lee LaFollette shows a de Havilland Beaver aircraft departing the Port of Ketchikan, Alaska. Foggy, reduced-visibility conditions have delayed efforts to recover the wreckage of a sightseeing plane that crashed in southeast Alaska, killing six people. Clint Johnson, chief of the National Transportation Safety Board’s Alaska region, says the agency had hoped to recover the wreckage Sunday. But he says those efforts were called off due to poor conditions. He says the crew planned to try again on Monday, Aug. 9, 2021. (Lee LaFollette via AP)
Juneau resident Katie Kowalchuk let her mask express her excitement before competing in the Aukeman Triathlon on Saturday, August 7. Organizers adopted COVID mitigations, including pre-race masking and distancing, as part of the event. (Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire)

Get ready, get set, go: Athletes compete in Aukeman Triathlon

“Race day, yay!”

Juneau resident Katie Kowalchuk let her mask express her excitement before competing in the Aukeman Triathlon on Saturday, August 7. Organizers adopted COVID mitigations, including pre-race masking and distancing, as part of the event. (Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire)
Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, one of the key Senate Republicans who negotiated the $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill with Democrats, departs after a procedural vote on the measure, at the Capitol in Washington, Saturday, Aug. 7, 2021. More votes will be needed before final Senate passage. (AP Photo / J. Scott Applewhite)

Senate votes to advance Biden’s $1T infrastructure bill

“The Senate needs some demonstrated acts of bipartisanship.”

  • Aug 7, 2021
  • By Lisa Mascaro AP Congressional Correspondent
  • National News
Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, one of the key Senate Republicans who negotiated the $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill with Democrats, departs after a procedural vote on the measure, at the Capitol in Washington, Saturday, Aug. 7, 2021. More votes will be needed before final Senate passage. (AP Photo / J. Scott Applewhite)
Eagle Scout Kristofer Ely and American Legion Post Commander Tom Dawson shake hands at the unveiling of the new sign outside Auke Bay Post 25. Ely executed a project replacing the old sign with the new one. (Courtesy photo / Tom Dawson)

Juneau scout replaces American Legion sign

The project was part of his path to the rank of Eagle Scout.

Eagle Scout Kristofer Ely and American Legion Post Commander Tom Dawson shake hands at the unveiling of the new sign outside Auke Bay Post 25. Ely executed a project replacing the old sign with the new one. (Courtesy photo / Tom Dawson)
Environmentalists in Southeast Alaska are hoping to renew a push for action on pollution of transboundary waters flowing from Canada into the U.S. South of the Juneau, heavy metals run out of the Tulsequah Chief mine opening and down to holding ponds next to the Tulsequah River Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2008. Leakage from those ponds can be seen entering the river that flows into the Taku River down stream. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire file)

Resolution urges action on transboundary pollution

‘Coming at us quickly.’

Environmentalists in Southeast Alaska are hoping to renew a push for action on pollution of transboundary waters flowing from Canada into the U.S. South of the Juneau, heavy metals run out of the Tulsequah Chief mine opening and down to holding ponds next to the Tulsequah River Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2008. Leakage from those ponds can be seen entering the river that flows into the Taku River down stream. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire file)
Jeff Rogers, CBJ’s finance director, joined the April 22 Greater Juneau Chamber of Commerce Alaska Business Roundtable’s Zoom meeting to explain why commercial properties have recently been reassessed and what it means for business and property owners in the borough. (Screenshot)

Strictly commercial: Property owners chafe at new assessments

Business owners question assessment process.

Jeff Rogers, CBJ’s finance director, joined the April 22 Greater Juneau Chamber of Commerce Alaska Business Roundtable’s Zoom meeting to explain why commercial properties have recently been reassessed and what it means for business and property owners in the borough. (Screenshot)
A cabin on Chowiet Island off the Alaska Peninsula in which two biologists were the closest humans to a recent magnitude 8.2 earthquake. (Courtesy Photo /Erik Andersen, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.)

Alaska Science Forum: The closest people to an 8.2 earthquake

The people who were closest were two biologists who are living on Chowiet Island this summer.

A cabin on Chowiet Island off the Alaska Peninsula in which two biologists were the closest humans to a recent magnitude 8.2 earthquake. (Courtesy Photo /Erik Andersen, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.)
Ketchikan Volunteer Rescue Squad personnel land and disembark from a Hughes 369D helicopter on Thursday, Aug. 5, 2021, at Temsco Helicopters Inc in Ketchikan, Alaska. The KVRS, U.S. Coast Guard, Alaska State Troopers and U.S. Forest Service responded to a radio beacon alert from a downed Southeast Aviation de Havilland Beaver float plane that was carrying five passengers from the Holland America Line cruise ship Nieuw Amsterdam, according to Coast Guard, Holland America and KVRS information. The sightseeing plane crashed Thursday in southeast Alaska, killing all six people on board, the U.S. Coast Guard said. (Dustin Safranek / Ketchikan Daily News)

Coast Guard: 6 dead in sightseeing plane crash

Emergency beacon near Alaska’s Misty Fjords National Monument.

Ketchikan Volunteer Rescue Squad personnel land and disembark from a Hughes 369D helicopter on Thursday, Aug. 5, 2021, at Temsco Helicopters Inc in Ketchikan, Alaska. The KVRS, U.S. Coast Guard, Alaska State Troopers and U.S. Forest Service responded to a radio beacon alert from a downed Southeast Aviation de Havilland Beaver float plane that was carrying five passengers from the Holland America Line cruise ship Nieuw Amsterdam, according to Coast Guard, Holland America and KVRS information. The sightseeing plane crashed Thursday in southeast Alaska, killing all six people on board, the U.S. Coast Guard said. (Dustin Safranek / Ketchikan Daily News)